tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-916245920483213042014-10-02T00:40:46.948-04:00Running PrototypeKyle Enoreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-39132690191630768002011-01-04T22:21:00.000-05:002011-01-04T22:21:51.603-05:00Watching the Sugar Bowl & Can't Help But Notice...As a fan of Ohio State Football, I'm sitting watching the Sugar Bowl on ESPN. Most off the BCS bowl game audience will have a hard time not noticing all of the <a href="http://www.nissanusa.com/">Nissan&nbsp;</a>advertising. &nbsp;(Barclay field goal, no good - Damn) From the "Nissan Pre-Game Shift" to the presenting sponsor of the Heisman Trophy, the automaker is heavily invested in College Football. I will say as a car guy, dead set on a new Camaro, I find their commercials to be very well done.<br /><br />Most car commercials can be very bland and look the same. I just wanted to share my thoughts on some commercials you might have watched during the&nbsp;BCS bowl games.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/UUA5vHE_6ok?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;color1=0x5d1719&amp;color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/UUA5vHE_6ok?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;color1=0x5d1719&amp;color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>I could just see myself, years in the future, wanting to change my Camaro into something bigger. (Touchdown Posey!)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="306" width="500"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/in60bGJEzUk?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;color1=0x5d1719&amp;color2=0xcd311b"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/in60bGJEzUk?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US&amp;color1=0x5d1719&amp;color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="500" height="306"></embed></object></div><br />Pause the video at 11 seconds and tell me you didn't laugh?<br /><br />Now as a kid, I was taught to play nice. I didn't scratch up my cars (too bad, at least) or break out a saw and chop them in half, but my favorite part is when the kid in the commercial drops the Altima down the toilet. the look on his face, through the water gets me EVERY time. As a NASCAR fan who watches races, the novelty of a new commercial wears off by the end of the Daytona 500. In other words quickly.<br /><br />Thanks for reading. Halftime. Go Buckeyes.<br />Follow Me on Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/kyleedington">@kyleedington</a>Kyle Enoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-20717730973975739902010-11-01T14:47:00.001-04:002010-11-01T16:14:15.803-04:00Happy Halloween!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TJiAeTTPXA/TM8LU9LgycI/AAAAAAAAAC8/10S57jxK69U/IMAG0109.jpg"><img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_8TJiAeTTPXA/TM8LU9LgycI/AAAAAAAAAC8/10S57jxK69U/s400/IMAG0109.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Iron Man Pumpkin.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="clear: both; font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.3</span></div>Kyle Enoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-38092572991014430112010-07-29T00:00:00.001-04:002010-07-29T00:00:44.469-04:00Reactions to the latest NASCAR newsFirst off, I'd like to point out that this post is also being used as a test for my new phone. It's a really cool toy to play with; one that I hope will encourage me to do more blogging.<br /><br />I wanted to share a few thoughts on the latest developments in the NASCAR garage. With Monday's announcement of Australian driver, Marcos Ambrose's departure from JTG D. Racing, it seems to be upon a mutual agreement. Today, team officials announced that the seat of th #47 Toyota will be piloted by former champion, Bobby Labonte. I think among fans and the garage area alike will react positively. Labonte has for too long relegated to antiquated equipment and will nkow have a shot at competing for race wins. Fans have witnessed that the #47 entry can compete beyond the road course races where Ambrose is a favorite.<br /><br />Speaking of where Tazmanian Devil will drive next year, the moment I heard Ambrose may leave, it seemed only natural he would land in a Ford. Ambrose bleeds for the blue oval, seeing as he was a factory driver down under. Ford also sponsored him to come drive in America, so it is fitting to see him return. The only question remaining is which seat under Richard Petty Motorsports he will take. <br />The signing of Ambrose may be the first of a domino effect in the garage to determine where a number of drivers may go next year. Drivers like Elliott Sadler, Kasey Kahne, and Scott Speed. More importantly, it will lead to the announcement of major sponsor signing of Budweiser (Harvick's RCR #29, in my opinion) or Mobile 1.<br /><br />Also, thoughts and prayers go out to the Cat In the Hat, JackRoush. After miraculously walking away from a plane crash, he is recovering in a nearby hospital in Wisconsin. <br /><br />Thanks for reading, as always, feel free to comment, or find me on Twitter @kyleedington.Kyle Enoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-86485435408570260782010-04-21T16:34:00.000-04:002010-04-21T16:38:42.191-04:00UNDER CONSTRUCTIONThere has been a great amount of 'stuff' going on for me personally the last month or two. It's all very exciting. <div><br /></div><div>In that, I've been doing a lot of contemplating on what to blog. I'm reading/experience a lot of great things but have not made time to react. In order to do a better job, I'm working on revamping the look, the feel, ect. My goal is to create more content and and a better feel to my site.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stay Tuned!</div>Kyle Enoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-5532083376505972382010-02-14T12:59:00.001-05:002010-11-01T16:25:18.616-04:00This NASCAR season feels good<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Watching all the Speedweeks coverage this week, I just get the feeling that this season could be more exciting than those over the last few years. This opinion is coming from someone who has enjoyed the racing for the most part. Here are a few reasons why I think it should be better:</span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 38.05pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span">·</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span">&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Drivers policing drivers on the track – which will go a long way to making restrictor plate racing the amazing spectacle it should be. Did you see the two photo finishes at the Gatorade Duals on Thursday? I did. That was great racing!</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 38.05pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">·</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Danica – Regardless of personal opinion, yours or mine, she will be great for the sport. Did you know that her ARCA debut saw a ratings increase of over 80 percent?!? You think that wouldn’t benefit every car in the field looking for more butts in the seats and eyes on televisions. </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 38.05pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">·</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Waving goodbye to the Wing – the most difficult part of the new Sprint Cup car to get used too, is going to become a thing of the past. Any room for a COT wing display in the NASCAR Hall of Fame? (just kidding) </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: 38.05pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">·</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The fight to knock off the Champ, Jimmie Johnson – Can it be done? Threat Denny Hamlin tore his ACL playing basketball, said it should not be a distraction. Can Mark Martin improve on a spectacular performance from 2009?</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Those are just a few comments I wanted to share as I watch the Daytona 500 pre-race coverage. Enjoy the racing season!</span></span></div>Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-69494155286477893362009-12-30T15:29:00.000-05:002009-12-30T15:39:03.060-05:00Motorsports – Word of the year: Value<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While enjoying my holiday away from school, I’ve had some precious time to reflect on my experience in Orlando at the Motor Sport Business Forum. Among almost every session, I found the distinguished panels to keep repeating one word: VALUE. </span></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I want to a share a few memorable anecdotes.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Eddie Gossage, President of <a href="http://www.texasmotorspeedway.com/">Texas Motor Speedway</a>, was asked a question about what his track has done to ease the burden on fans at the track. According to focus groups conducted in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the ability to bring a <a href="http://www.texasmotorspeedway.com/VisitorGuide/Visitor-Checklist.aspx">cooler</a> into the racetrack and <a href="http://www.texasmotorspeedway.com/content/Parking-Info.aspx">free parking</a> are two amenities that set TMS apart from any other sporting option in the region. Contrast that to the new Texas Stadium, home of Jerry Jones’s Dallas Cowboys where it costs $75 just to park a single vehicle!</span></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While some perceive the series to be struggling, IRL President, Terry Angstadt was able to shed a lot of light on American open-wheel racing, which I know far less about. Clothing company IZOD originally began a relationship with IndyCar as an Official Apparel sponsor in 2009. It has since embraced the diversity that IndyCar represents (having a driver lineup far more diverse, with many competitive foreign and female drivers), and wanted to increase involvement. Starting in 2010, the IRL has changed its name to the <a href="http://www.indycar.com/">IZOD IndyCar Series</a>. It will kick off 2010 with a third race outside of the US, on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in addition to races held in Toronto and Japan. </span></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.nhra.com/">NHRA</a> President, Tom Compton, spoke about the objective of delivering value to four main constituents. First, the fan – through delivering high quality entertainment. Second, the sponsors – using the sport as a vehicle to sell products, services, or promote awareness. Third, the tracks – holding their events provides income, and long-term stability for the series. Last, the competitors – by maintaining the prestige of the series to provide satisfaction and an income.</span></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Susan Lute, from <a href="http://www.canadiantire.ca/home.jsp?site=WebStore">Canadian Tire</a>, title sponsor of <a href="http://localracing.nascar.com/series/6">NASCAR Canada</a>, laid out four strong points for when a company searches to activate their sponsorship. First, objectives for your plan must be defined. Deviating from those objectives can cause you to lose sight and miss your point. Second, move from “I think,” to “I know.” Third, a company’s goal should invest in a marketing message that reaches 100% of your intended target. Last, this would apply for any working relationship, being excited about working together helps both parties succeed.</span></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">To conclude, Eddie Gossage and TMS have worked to increase the value for fans by keeping a little bit of cash in fans wallets. The IZOD IndyCar Series has a more diverse culture, which has attracted new partners. NHRA has outlined who they serve, and strive to meet their goal. Canadian Tire, has outlined their strategy which not only increases value (sales) for the company, but experiences a mutually beneficial relationship working with NASCAR Canada.</span></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">These just a few pieces of information I was able to pick up while attending the Motor Sport Business Forum. I hope you find it interesting. Please, feel free to ask questions or leave comments. I look forward to responding to your thoughts and writing more over the next few weeks.</span></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As always, follow me on <a href="http://www.twitter.com/kyleedington">Twitter</a>, connect via&nbsp;<a href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/kyleedington">LinkedIn</a>, or email <a href="mailto:kylecedington@gmail.com">kylecedington@gmail.com</a>.</span></span><br /></div>Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-46926756921209362072009-12-11T02:36:00.000-05:002010-11-01T16:24:37.296-04:00History-Making at the Motor Sport Business Forum<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span><br />Having just got back from the Motor Sport Business Forum in Orlando, Florida, I am still decompressing and comprehending all that went on in the 48 hours I was there. One of the very first announcements made at the opening session, promised guests a special announcement at the Tuesday evening cocktail reception, sponsored by The Walt-Disney Company.<br /><br />As a participant in the MSBF, I was one of a select few who witnessed and awarding of the inaugural Paul Newman Winning Through Giving Award. This new annual award will be given to an individual who shares the late acting star's passion for motorsports and the unwavering devotion to philanthropic work.<br /><br />The award was presented to Jim France, NASCAR Executive Vice President and ISC Chairman. Presenters included Zak Brown, CEO of Just Marketing International, Simon Berger, CEO of IM2 Events (individuals who developed and created the MSBF event); selection committee chairs Sarah Gurtis, Camp Boggy Creek Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development (a Paul Newman Hole in the Wall Camp in Eustis, Florida) and Michael Brockman, Newman's former racing teammate and actor.<br /><br />The award was preceded by a video sharing the impact motorsports had on Newman's life and how his philanthropic efforts have changed lives and inspired others to make a difference.<br /><br />In the years to come, as the awareness of this award grows, the Paul Newman Winning Through Giving award will be one that will be highly regarded and respected beyond the motorsports community.<br /><br />In my next few posts, I will discuss the impact of the MSBF, and touch on some topics/points made speakers, and other thoughts I on the great event. <br />Please feel free to leave comments, as I would love to discuss your opinions and hear more from readers.Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-33453108873474450042009-12-07T01:21:00.000-05:002009-12-07T01:21:54.782-05:00Motor Sport Business ForumIt's been a while since I've had a new post. I've been busy getting ready for a great networking opportunity in Orlando for the Motor Sport Business Forum. If you've been following my Twitter account, you'll note that I've booked my tickets, and updated all my other important pieces like resume, and Web sites.<br /><br />Check my Twitter over the next couple of days, where I'll keep you posted on my travels and&nbsp;experiences&nbsp;in Orlando. I'll also post some reactions after the trip.<br /><br />Wish me luck, searching for&nbsp;opportunities&nbsp;as I chase my dream!Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-35782601054434297992009-11-16T13:58:00.000-05:002009-11-16T13:58:43.769-05:00Buy Nothing Day - Latest Holiday Craze!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m1RCS-sNC9U/SwGfu7CRZGI/AAAAAAAAAC8/jeY7YD0jzws/s1600/BND1b+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_m1RCS-sNC9U/SwGfu7CRZGI/AAAAAAAAAC8/jeY7YD0jzws/s400/BND1b+copy.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>It's been a while since I have posted a picture of the week. I think this will qualify. For my Graphic Design course, we are to design a postcard encouraging participating in Buy Nothing Day. On Black Friday, instead of getting up early, and spending unnecessary hard earned money on likely useless items, spend the day instead with quality family time. Play a game, go outside, enjoy the Thanksgiving leftovers, etc! So do your family a favor and hangout with them instead of potentially getting trampled at Toys 'R' Us.<br /><br />Enjoy, have a Happy Thanksgiving! I'll see most of you when we return from break. In the mean time, keep blogging! By the way, if you like the Buy Nothing Day image, please email me or give credit where credit is due. Thanks!Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-81580806669251471772009-11-15T15:53:00.000-05:002009-11-15T15:53:35.280-05:00This Is It is Alright<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.michaeljacksonlive.com/images/rehersal01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="http://www.michaeljacksonlive.com/images/rehersal01.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">VS.<br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m1RCS-sNC9U/SwBhhFTjW4I/AAAAAAAAAC0/q-wJh_UzYI8/s1600-h/darius.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_m1RCS-sNC9U/SwBhhFTjW4I/AAAAAAAAAC0/q-wJh_UzYI8/s320/darius.bmp" /></a><br /></div>I love music. My iTunes has a very eclectic variety of artists, genres, etc. I have a number of favorite artists, but I saw something that made an interesting connection.<br /><br />I went to go see <i>Michael Jackson's This Is It</i>, at the Ada Theater on opening night. Personal life aside, the King of Pop was very talented, I enjoyed a number of his songs, and the movie was very interesting from a creative perspective. Viewers get a rare chance to see how a production, as elaborate as that concert was going to be, come together.I felt that with as many creative an innovative aspect that were going to be included in the concert series, that it will elevate musical stage productions in the future. From the 3-D video to scenes that were going to be acted out on stage (one word: bulldozer) there are many examples that will push the boundaries of concert viewing.&nbsp;The point that I want to make, is that until the very end, Mr. Jackson's creativity still has the ability to influence artists of all genres.<br /><br />I'm a big fan of Hootie and the Blowfish, so therefore, as lead singer Darius Rucker made the jump to country, I have continued to listen to his music. I missed catching the CMA Awards that were held earlier this week in Nashville, so after pulling up a video of Mr. Rucker's performance, I notice a similarity in the backround in his rendition of Alright, to two backgrounds from <i>This Is It</i>.<br /><br />Now, I am not trying to say that this was an obvious nod to Mr. Jackson, but it was a cool reference, and a first example of where Michael left off, and other artists will pick up and run.<br /><br />Any thoughts from readers?Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-5734003427291896002009-11-14T12:20:00.000-05:002009-11-14T12:20:19.781-05:00Grand Ole Opry on MySpace!<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Do you like country music? Well if you do, you need to some day make it to Nashville to see the show that made country music famous. I am talking about the Grand Ole Opry. However, if you cannot make it this weekend, definately check out MySpace or&nbsp;</span></span><a href="http://www.myspace.com/grandoleopry"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">http://www.myspace.com/grandoleopry</span></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;on Saturday night at 9 pm. I say this because the Opry will be streaming live online.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I'm really excited because up here in Ada, whether it is through Time Warner Cable, or ONU cable, we do not get GAC, the channel the Opry is broadcast. I hope broadcasting online, is something that the Opry can continue for special occasions.&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So check out the music, it will be excellent. Did I mention that the lineup includes Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride and Jake Owen?</span></span>Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-80757639747512157072009-11-10T11:50:00.000-05:002009-11-10T11:50:11.674-05:00Thoughts on Thought LeadersOver the last ten weeks, as we've become&nbsp;immersed&nbsp;and&nbsp;experienced&nbsp;using the many tools of social media, we have, in turn, become thought leaders ourselves. We are likely the most expereinced within social media on campus. I know I've shared my thoughts and experiences with friends.<br /><br />I'm also likely to share my social media information with the Office of Career Services. In my opinion, it could use it.<br /><br />Good class everyone, I've never actually enjoyed a four-hour long class before, but this one was more than enjoyable. I'll be sad to see it go, but I hope you all continue to blog&nbsp;periodically. I'll be sure to not only read, but COMMENT as well. Good luck finding your niche, I'll be reading.Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-15341164776723113722009-11-08T19:43:00.001-05:002009-11-08T19:43:59.513-05:00Organizational Twitter: @ONUSports & @SpiritAirlines<div class="MsoNormal">Twitter is has been the most important tool to catch fire within the social media revolution over the last year. I believe that if you had asked the average organization or individual one year ago, if they would be on Twitter, the answer would likely be, no. Over the last twelve months, many users have learned how to use Twitter more effectively. Over the last week, I’ve observed two organizations that I follow and would like to offer some comments on their tweets.<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">As a student here at ONU, and one who knows a number of our student athletes, I follow @ONUSports. This week has been a big week, as not only students begin to wrap up our academic quarter, but also for many fall sports, they begin to enter postseasons and tournaments. Keeping followers up-to-date, @ONUSports does a nice job updating the status of award winning players, and updating tournament standings. The following are some tweets posted in the last week from @ONUSports.<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">Dan Otanicar earns ESPN the Magazin/CoSIDA First Team Academic All-District honors</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;"><a href="http://bit.ly/2heHHp" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff6633; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://bit.ly/2heHHp</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">Men's Basketball has solid performance in 75-66 loss in exhibition game at NCAA Division I-foe Kent State</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;"><a href="http://bit.ly/24tRA2" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff6633; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://bit.ly/24tRA2</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">Men's Basketball has solid performance in 75-66 loss in exhibition game at NCAA Division I-foe Kent State</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;"><a href="http://bit.ly/24tRA2" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff6633; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://bit.ly/24tRA2</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">No. 6 Volleyball sweeps Mount Union in OAC Tournament Semifinals</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;"><a href="http://bit.ly/2oq0jx" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff6633; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://bit.ly/2oq0jx</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">No. 6 Volleyball wins fourth straight OAC Tournament Title with 3-2 win over No. 19 Heidelberg <a href="http://bit.ly/H7POA" target="_blank"><span style="color: #ff6633;">http://bit.ly/H7POA</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">As I look to utilize a networking opportunity in Orlando, which is quickly approaching in December, I am looking for a cheap airfare. I was told by a friend to check out Spirit Airlines. I have logged on to their website a few times, and liked what I saw. I figured with this assignment, I should see if they had a Twitter account. Sure enough they do. No later than the end of Thanksgiving break, I plan to make my plans final, and very likely that I will be making a seat reservation on Spirit Airlines. I find their tweets to be exactly what I would be looking for, as I am about to purchase a flight myself: all about saving money. Here are the tweets I read in the last week from Spirit Airlines.<br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #030303; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">Coupon clipping is cool! Why not use one when booking your flight? Spirit is offering $35 &amp; $24 coupons*! Click here:<a href="http://bit.ly/2Wq0Yn" target="_blank"><span style="color: #00549e;">http://bit.ly/2Wq0Yn</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #030303; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">Take advantage of your Spirit's $24 Coupon*! Book today and save on your next flight. Hurry, this offer ends tonight.<a href="http://bit.ly/1iYCHl" target="_blank"><span style="color: #00549e;">http://bit.ly/1iYCHl</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #030303; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">Use our $35 and $24 coupons now to save big on your next flight. Find the coupon that works best for you and book now -<a href="http://bit.ly/3cs1uN" target="_blank"><span style="color: #00549e;">http://bit.ly/3cs1uN</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #030303; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">"Falling Fares" at Spirit! Watch our fares fall as we roll through autumn! Our fares are falling as low as $9* E/W <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #030303; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">-</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #030303; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;">&nbsp;</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #030303; font-family: &quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; font-size: 9.5pt;"><a href="http://bit.ly/p6FBn" target="_blank"><span style="color: #00549e; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">http://bit.ly/p6FBn</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Overall, I found the two organizations that I followed this past week to be very interesting to me personally, and fairly effective for their purpose. @ONUSports kept followers up-to-date as new news about our sports teams became available. @SpiritAirlines was effective in offering coupons to people searching for flights, while not bombarding with annoying tweets. Many companies can do too many in short periods of time. Spirit kept their tweets to at least twenty-four hours apart, so never read more than one a day.<br /></div>Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-87599109448037460522009-11-07T22:52:00.000-05:002009-11-07T22:52:55.952-05:00Live Sports BroadcastingPartly due to the fact that I'm a bit under the weather, I've kept myself inside today. But one of the bright spots of my day was watching my friends on the women's volleyball team capture yet another OAC Tournament Championship! Congratulations to them! I was able to watch them via a live broadcast from Heidleburg's Web site.<br /><br />It brought me to this thought: why doesn't ONU broadcast (with television) more away contests? I'm aware that we have a number of dedicated sports announcers who do their homework, and broadcast many away contests on WONB. I feel as though more people would be willing to tune in and watch a webcast than just an audio broadcast over the radio.<br /><br />Last year, during the opening round of the NCAA Soccer Championship, I got to watch ONU defeat Wheaton College in an exciting match. In doing so, I fulfilled a promise, that if they won, that I would take a carload of friends to Chicago the next night to watch the next game! It was a great&nbsp;experience, because as a fan with little to no knowledge of soccer, being able to watch the game instead of listen, makes it more enjoyable.<br /><br />Does anyone know why we do not broadcast live games on the internet? Just a thought.Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-51203128980175228972009-11-03T02:26:00.000-05:002009-11-03T02:26:59.534-05:00Looking at the New RulesHaving become&nbsp;familiar&nbsp;with many of the New Rules of Marketing and PR, our class is truly aware that our goals &nbsp;as marketing and public relations&nbsp;practitioners, our goal is to establish a mutually beneficial relationship with our target customer or individual.<br /><br />We have been exposed to the many tools used by todays professionals to build and maintain relationships; from podcasts to videos and blogs to twitter, I think it is our responsibility to continue to participate in the online environment, after our class is through.<br /><br />While no one from our social media course would consider ourselves experts (yet), we are certainly among the cutting edge, within our University, and hopefully other job candidates.Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-48772512526299181062009-11-02T23:19:00.000-05:002009-11-03T00:27:53.997-05:00Students In Free Enterprise Video<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/AAn_jtzWMhs&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/AAn_jtzWMhs&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />This video was created to help encourage students to become active in student organizations, and specifically Students In Free Enterprise.Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-45871763742516292009-11-02T10:52:00.000-05:002009-11-02T10:52:29.677-05:00Heard on the Tundra - Keep your eyes open!I just wanted to share a brief piece of advice with my readers. Keep you eyes open on new and exciting ways to demonstrate abilities. This applies to anyone interested in gaining&nbsp;meaningful&nbsp;employment after&nbsp;graduation. As a peer career assistant in the Office of Career Services, I have a variety of&nbsp;responsibilities, but the latest task is really exciting.<br /><br />I now get to be the Voice of the Office of Career Services,&nbsp;occasionally recording spots that will be played on WONB, our university-run station. Not only do I get to learn how to use different technology to record and edit myself, but I also get my name over the airwaves!<br /><br />Be open to exploring new opportunities, whether they relate to your field of study or not. I will say that using the podcast as a baby step, made me feel more comfortable recording in the studio.<br /><br />I'm also working on putting together a digital portfolio of sorts, and I'll look forward to the addition of an mp3 copy of my work from WONB. So my point: take advantage of unique opportunities presented to you!Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-86540308950682914622009-11-01T16:05:00.000-05:002009-11-02T10:41:16.030-05:00In-race Social Media Interaction<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></span><br /><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{&quot;type&quot;:&quot;msg&quot;}" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Every year I look forward to watching the four restrictor plate races at Talladega and Daytona. The unpredictability, tense and tight 30 car packs, create a must watch event. After the wild finish at Talladega in the spring, when Carl Edwards attempted to block Brad Keselowski, and left Edward airborne and in the fence, NASCAR has&nbsp;implemented&nbsp;a number of changes.</span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A. First and foremost, the speedway raised and improved the catchfence, for fans safety. There were a few minor injuries after the spring race when debris from Edwards car hit the fence.&nbsp;</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">B. NASCAR made a change to the size of the restrictor plate carburetor, reducing the power to keep the top speed below 200 miles per hour.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">C. This final change is one that is somewhat controversial. Due to the design of the cars, when two line up bumper to bumper, the aerodynamics create such an effect that the two cars can pull away from the pack of cars. [It was truly exciting to see the strategy work when the two cars become one and charge through the field.] So after final practice on Friday, NASCAR made a change stating that cars need "daylight" between them and can no longer push bumper to bumper through the corners.&nbsp;</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /><br /></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Needless to say the style of racing has changed today, as I'm watching the race. Many have been upset from drivers to fans with the mid-weekend change. While I'm a little sad to see the change made, I do realize that it was made to keep the competitors safe; I figured I'd check to see if there was any activity on the NASCAR Facebook page. The following quotes are from some opinionated fans posting on the NASCAR Facebook wall during the middle of the race.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /><br /></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Nascar isn’t saying anything now to em, hmmm, maybe [NASCAR President] Mike [Helton] got his head out of his ass!"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">"Looks like a IRL race""Finally a little bit of excitement, ok Nascar time for you to step in with your warnings, its getting to crazy.""Come NASCAR, REALLY? This race sucks! I'm so pissed that's about as nice as I can be right now!""Did nascar ok this 3 wide?""there more excitment on this board then on the tv""It's bad when right now I am watching the Cleveland Browns more than the race"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /><br /></span> <span class="apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">While the middle of the race was a little boring, the end is sure to be gratifying. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get back to he race. Enjoy</span></span></span><br /></div></span></span></h3>Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-43041445651055665742009-10-27T01:00:00.000-04:002009-10-27T01:00:16.568-04:00Inagural TGC Sports Talk with Kyle Edington and Herb HuffordCheck out our first <a href="http://ia311041.us.archive.org/1/items/TgcSportsTalk-AdaBulldogsNascarHallOfFame/InaguralTalk-Bulldogs_nascarHof.m4a">TGC Sports Talk</a> podcast. Topics include the latest with the Ada Bulldogs and comments on the inagural induction class of the NASCAR Hall of Fame.<br /><br />Please feel free to post any comments.&nbsp;Herb and I look forward to producing more TGC Sports Talk podcasts. We're open to new ideas for discussion or how to improve.<br /><br />Be sure to follow us on Twitter! Myself, Kyle Edington - @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/kyleedington">KyleEdington</a> - or Herb Hufford - @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/coachherb">CoachHerb</a>.Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-25684446355446839972009-10-27T00:50:00.000-04:002009-10-27T00:50:22.858-04:00Johnny Jobsearch here - ready to stand outI found this latest chapter of then New Rules of Marketing and PR very interesting. It is interesting how there will likely be a growing debate among companies and&nbsp;corporations&nbsp;between following the old rules and blazing a trail into the new rules.<br /><br />One positive example I recently commented on, was how GM is getting their custoemrs excited in developing new accessories for the Camaro. At this year's SEMA show, GM will debut the next strip/decal pages that will be chosen by the fans of the Camaro. By logging on to their Facebook page, there is a poll being conducted of a number of strip packages to be considered. The winner will be revealed at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. In an attempt to target the younger crowd, we could assume that GM has a buyer persona profile developed, and they are aware that we (me, specifically) is active on Facebook.<br /><br />I know that since I've started in the social media course this quarter, my online presence has greatly increased. &nbsp;While I'm still in the process of growing an audience, this chapter helped me realize that I need to take some time to consider what exactly my audience will be looking for, or how I should approach them. I know that after this class concludes, sadly, in a few weeks that I'll be looking to further tailor my blog to my interests and &nbsp; create more job search oriented posts.Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-87629586039410305872009-10-25T15:12:00.000-04:002009-10-25T15:12:20.833-04:00Online ReviewsThis has been stated in class many times before, but the online collaboration, when it comes to customer reviews is proving to be more and more important. I know with the latest editions of Microsoft and Apple operating systems, performance reviews from experts and comments from users on different forums will be key to winning over consumers and declaring a winner of this latest battle.&nbsp;Microsoft has clearly emerged from the Vista debacle with a solid offering, while Apple continues to refine an already robust Leopard system with the new Snow Leopard.<br /><br />While I am not in the market for a new computer at this very moment, I will assume that I'll look to purchase a new one sometime in the next year after I graduate. I know there are a lot of great features offered by both systems. I've also had experience using both&nbsp;operating&nbsp;systems. When it will come time to make my decision on which type to purchase, in addition to price, I'll be reading up on forums and plenty of other user reviews to help me make a decision what I'll purchase.<br /><br />After I make my decision, I'll do my best to return the favor and publish some of my opinions on how I make my decision, on a blog or article on the internet.Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-87149694111806055752009-10-24T20:17:00.000-04:002009-10-24T20:17:54.818-04:00Big School/Little SchoolToday, I had another experince that showed me a little bit of what going to a bigger school would have been like. I traveled north to Bowling Green State University where I got to watch a high school friend play football for Central Michigan University.&nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>There is something about that Division I environment, no matter how small the BGSU crowd was, that helps to get your&nbsp;adrenaline&nbsp;rushing. I think it could have been initiated by the fact that we had a fly over from the local military base! I seriously thought that the flyovers only&nbsp;happened&nbsp;during bowl games and NASCAR races! Maybe I need to pay a little more attention. Either way, what a way to start the game off!</div><div><br /></div><div>Even though I would not change my decision about coming to ONU for anything, there are certain compromises that you have to make. Division I sports and the big city enviornment, are most likely the most significant. I will hopefully make up for the that latter by getting a job in a cool city in the next few months!</div>Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-36281659934674225652009-10-20T11:47:00.000-04:002009-10-20T11:47:10.736-04:00Going Viral<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.pixartoystory.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/toy-story-buzz-woody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.pixartoystory.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/toy-story-buzz-woody.jpg" width="270" /></a><br /></div>After reading the chapter, Going Viral, in The New Influencers, it brought up the Numa Numa video I had posted back from the first week. Just as it was stated in the book, this happened to be one of the first viral videos that I had come across. I think the authors stated it perfectly, that almost everyone wants to be Gary Brolsman, and become some kind of sensation and claim their fifteen minutes of fame.<br /><br />The best part about viral marketing is that it can happen very quickly, and a minimum cost to the firm. However they are not always effective. I came across this recent attempt by DisneyPixar (as noted by their ID) promoting the Toy Story 1 &amp; 2 in 3D. View the link <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVr3CRRhuC8">here</a>. I really liked the idea, but I don't think it has caught on. It's a remix of "You've Got a Friend in Me." I saw when it was first released in early October. To date, it only has 45,000 views. I've only seen the link come up on YouTube, however the video does direct you to their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/disneypixar">Facebook </a>page.<br /><br />Often times companies violate so many of the rules outlined in the Going Viral chapter that they deny their potential sensation any chance at becoming successful. However, I don't think the folks at DisneyPixar violated any of the Success Factors as outlined.<br /><br /><b>The product had better be good </b>- Toy Story! I don't know anyone my age or even remotely close that didn't enjoy Toy Story.<br />T<b>he campaign must be innovative/intriguing/fun</b> - The remix was definitely fun and intreiguing, however, I do not think it was innovative. Everyone has seen or heard a remix at some point. I think it was a good idea though.<br /><b>Don't push it </b>- They folks responsible for creating this did just that. It is sitting on YouTube, and a link is on the Facebook page.&nbsp;Accessible&nbsp;to all.<br /><b>Reward </b>- I think the reward is the enjoyment of watching and listening.<br /><b>Let go</b> - at this point, I don't think, overall anything good or negative have come from this, except that 45,000 people have viewed it. Today their are 97 comments. Most of them positive and encouraging.<br /><b>Use the medium</b> - Seeing the Facebook and YouTube page, DisneyPixar is doing a fairly good job at using Social Media. Not everything can be a success.<br /><br />I at least hope you got a little enjoyment out of the video. I did!Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-68369498219642797592009-10-19T01:39:00.000-04:002009-10-19T01:39:03.251-04:00The lastest e-reading device<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/files/2009/10/QUE_vertical_A-719x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://mediamemo.allthingsd.com/files/2009/10/QUE_vertical_A-719x1024.jpg" width="224" /></a><br /></div><br />While I do not personally own a e-reading device, I&nbsp;certainly&nbsp;have a lot of&nbsp;experience&nbsp;with the Amazon Kindle after some of my work this past summer. The e-reading devices are growing tremendously, with reports that Barns and Noble recently saying that they will be producing their own model. This is in addition to the Kindle with a new lower price, that rumored Apple tablet, and the revamped Sony Reader. Of the latest device rumors, Plastic Logic finally released the name and a few profile images of their device, called the Que.<div><br /></div><div>The Que will be primarily targeting to the business crowd. This device is being promoted as one that will be superior to those who read magazines, newspapers and read many PDF documents. It will also be compatible with Microsoft Office to read Word documents, Excel files and PowerPoint presentations.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>However, we will not now the final specifications for the Que until sometime in January.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>After my brief&nbsp;experience&nbsp;with the Kindle this summer, I find having an e-reading device to be very useful. Because the device was purchased for work purposes, I don't think at this point in my life, I would otherwise purchase a device. I do not do enough leisure reading to justify spending $300 dollars on a specific new device. If there were more textbooks&nbsp;available&nbsp;in an electronic format (which I would imagine, in the next 4 years there will be) I would seek out a device to lighten my backpack.&nbsp;</div>Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91624592048321304.post-50604896636571965712009-10-17T14:19:00.000-04:002009-10-17T14:19:59.109-04:00To my high school seniors out there...Since Fall is upon us, that only means one thing around the ONU Campus. Well, it could mean several things, but the one thing I'm thinking of, high school visitors. So I thought I would offer a few pieces of advice for when you're out there visiting prospective campuses.<br /><br />I've been told that some high school students interested in ONU may be reading my blog. I have a brother who is a senior in high school, so I at least better have one person read this post!<br /><br />1. Visit all the schools you're interested in. Just because you've driven through a campus on a family trip, or really enjoy their athletic programs doesn't mean you will automatically enjoy the school.<br />2. Take the official tours. These tours always show the highlights of the campus and they help familiarize yourself with what you may get used to seeing everyday.<br />3. If you get a chance, talk to a professor or visit a class. If you happen to get some wierd glances from other students, disregard them. Most of them are really nice, and remember, they were in your shoes not so long ago.<br />4. After the tour, walk around on your own with you family or by yourself (as long as you feel safe).<br />5. Ask questions of the people you talk to from the school. How they answer is very important. Are they engaging? Do they seem interested in you?<br />6. Try and determine how you feel about school size. Do you want to be in a large and busy environment? Would you rather have some sort of relationship with professors? Tours can help make those complicated questions become more clear.<br /><br />However, when it comes down to it, everyone makes thier decisions for their own personal reasons. If there is one piece of advice that I could give anyone performing a college search, it would be this: Find the school that feels most like home to you, the place where you could see yourself, enjoying, succeeding, and be happy for the next four years.<br /><br />Best of luck out there! Anyone have any other suggestions?Kyle E.noreply@blogger.com0